Still struggling with career choice

Author Topic: Still struggling with career choice  (Read 3881 times)

Offline moparmaniac59

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Re: Still struggling with career choice
« Reply #30 on: November 21, 2012 - 03:32:10 PM »
Hey Jeremiah,

Just in case you have any sort of interest, here is some more info & a link to a web site concerning the apprentice program. I didn't mention that joining the navy is not required. This is a civilian program sponsored by the navy located at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth VA. Ther are other apprenticeship programs out there, but in my opinion, this is one of the best & offers further advancement & education to post graduate apprentices. Good luck with your search!!

 NNSY Apprentice Program
accepting applications through
Dec. 21
The Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Apprentice
Program will be accepting applications for
the 2013 apprentice class now through Dec. 21,
2012.
NNSY is currently conducting information
sessions at the Tidewater Community College
Portsmouth Campus, every Monday at 4:00
p.m. and every Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.
For more information, check out http://www.navsea.navy.mil/shipyards/norfolk/Careers/Apprentice.
aspx

                                                                        Matt B.
Matt




Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Still struggling with career choice
« Reply #31 on: November 21, 2012 - 09:13:45 PM »
Go to school get over qualified , I would have gone for mech engineering , even if I had not used the degree it would have opened a lot more doors in life .

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline CUDA JAS

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Re: Still struggling with career choice
« Reply #32 on: November 22, 2012 - 03:41:39 PM »
Ok, so here is my opinion, for what it’s worth....I tend to disagree with the follow your passion and the money will follow position.  I am a car guy, aren't we all, so after high school I went to work in the family business, my Dad's body shop.  It was cool at first; we built some hot rods over the years, learned a bunch of stuff. My brother eventually came to work with us, and he and I had a lot of fun!!!

At the end of the day however, the last thing I wanted to do, was hang out and work on my own stuff.  It was only in very rare occasions that I worked on my own stuff, or anything truly cool!  Mainly it was everyday rust or collision repair.  My lifelong passion had become a job, and was not much fun at that point.

After 5 years, I bailed, and went back to school and now have a high paying desk job. 

Now granted my experience in the auto industry may have been skewed due to the dynamics of working for family, but the end result is that my passion dwindled and the last thing I wanted to do was work on cars.

Now, I have a very good career and make more money than I ever thought possible. Even after 13 years, I still have a world of opportunity and the possibility to make even more money.  Is this my dream job and my passion, in some ways yes and some ways no  Hell I am a sales tax consultant for Pete sake!!!!  It is not glamorous or sexy.  I sit at a desk all day, review numbers or legislation and talk to client's about their sales tax issues.  It is however, a fairly stable career that will provide for my family and allow me to afford a lifestyle I may not otherwise have been able to.

I got here because I went back to school and took the right program and excelled.  That my friend opened the doors that allowed me to succeed and sounds like what you are doing now.

The upside of not being in the car bizz anymore is that my passion for cars is stronger than ever.  I think about working on and driving my car all the time now.  I think every so often that it would be cool to have my own hotrod shop, but then I remember what that can be like...and remember I like to work on my own stuff not other people's stuff, and I smack my head and get back to work.

So be careful about trying to turn your passion into a source of income, because in some cases, that passion DOES feel like work, and that is when it no longer becomes fun.

I work at a large professional services (accounting firm), but I am not an accountant.  You may want to check out the big firms, we all offer a tremendous amount of services and have amazing opportunities.  If you start in one service and find that you do not like it, you may be able to move to another service.

Remember, you are young, and there is no rule saying you have to stick with the career you choose right out of school.  I am sure there are many on this board that have tried a number of different careers over the years.  Try to be open to different opportunities that come your way.

Sorry for the long post, I hope you got something form it.

Jason
74 'cuda 360/727



Gearhead: car nut, automotive enthusiast, one who loves hot rods, muscle cars, hot trucks, burnin' rubber and neck snapping performance. 

Just call me a gearhead!

Offline ChallengerHK

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Re: Still struggling with career choice
« Reply #33 on: November 22, 2012 - 11:16:42 PM »
Ok, so here is my opinion, for what it’s worth....I tend to disagree with the follow your passion and the money will follow position.  I am a car guy, aren't we all, so after high school I went to work in the family business, my Dad's body shop.  It was cool at first; we built some hot rods over the years, learned a bunch of stuff. My brother eventually came to work with us, and he and I had a lot of fun!!!

At the end of the day however, the last thing I wanted to do, was hang out and work on my own stuff. 

I tend to agree with Jason here. I think the way that "follow your passion and the money will come" can work is when you find something that you don't mind working at 12 or 14 or 16 hours a day, and then dreaming about at night. If you find that, you can then work like hell and make tons of money, but you'll be sacrificing other things, like, say, a family, to make that happen.

The only other time I've seen this work is for people like my ex, who were born extremely wealthy.


"She'll make point five past light speed. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, and I've made a lot of special modifications myself."

- Han Solo, Star Wars

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Offline Gumby

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Re: Still struggling with career choice
« Reply #34 on: November 23, 2012 - 06:07:24 AM »
I can't really offer any advice. I have been lucky/fortunate in my life to get the jobs that I have had. Knowing people is one way to get your foot in the door. I will relate my experiances/opinions - when I lived in Houston, AC people were in GREAT demand. They made more money than I would have ever imagined, and had the McMansions and the trophy wives to back that all up. Relatively simple operations, and not much money for start up, compared with some other ventures. The only people more in demand were mortuary owners/personell. Fool proof industries. Not every dream, no matter how hard you try, will bring you the dollars. Like others have said, you can get burnt out by doing mundane during the day and try and chase your dreams at night. I'll bet 99% of people see these car shows on tv and think that's how it works. I'll bet 99% of the people turning wrenches wish it would have been them, somehow. TV Isn't reality. (You know that already) You are probably more likely to get hit by lightning. Not to discourage you at all, but take a CLEAR real look. Look at what people want, or need. and supply that to them. or learn to tell a story. A whacky crazy story that everyone will want to read. Stephen King did very well doing just that. Bottom line, find what people need, and give that to them. Or create a need and convince the people that they can't live without it, and sell them the answer. This might sound vague and simplistic, and stupid, but maybe it might spark an idea. Just things to get you thinking about. Good Luck!
{oo/-------\oo} In '69 I was twenty-one and I called the road my own. I don't know when that road turned into the road I'm on. Jackson Browne

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Still struggling with career choice
« Reply #35 on: December 06, 2012 - 01:14:47 PM »
This may not be for you , I do not know you , but if you have the abilty to do it I would go for an engineering degree , mechanical , electrical etc , you can do it 2 ways in Canada , University 4-5 years , or Tech school 2-3 years , get into Energy / Oil etc . Go to work in Houston or Alberta . most of the people I built cars for did this & had the $$ to play .
 The next best choice would be trades , welding , electrical etc , again focus on energy / oil
 Engineers seem to be making $50-60/ hr up with experience maybe 100 + / hr
 I know Pipeline welders , B pressure certified make $2000 / day up with all expenses paid .
Consultants , Geologists can make 2000k / day also .
 If you go hard for 10 years & do not blow all your $$ as most do , you will be set for life .
 Working in oil is hard work , as an engineer you will be inside mostly , welding etc you live in camps away from friends & family & work long hrs outside . The last job I did I was working as much as 22 hrs / day & worked 86 days straight no days off in temps as low as -56* C or -70 F .
 If I had been able to afford school & had gone when I was 17 , I could have had a house paid for & a good nest egg for retirement by the time I was 35 easily .
 Here is a site looking for workers , jobs are added weekly , oftem 700 or more / week https://col125.mail.live.com/mail/InboxLight.aspx?n=1336765188&fid=1&fav=1&mid=34d3ddd5-3f01-11e2-ac2d-00215ad9dfc6&fv=1#n=610214414&fid=1&pdir=NextPage&paid=c313bf4f-3e22-11e2-b87e-00237de3f16c&pad=2012-12-04T14%3A56%3A23.097Z&pidx=2&fav=1&mid=172651cb-3bee-11e2-9c37-00215ad7f15c&fv=1
 
« Last Edit: December 06, 2012 - 01:20:32 PM by Chryco Psycho »

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Offline ChallengerHK

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Re: Still struggling with career choice
« Reply #36 on: December 06, 2012 - 02:13:04 PM »
I'm working in the oil industry right now. I can echo a lot of what Neil says, but there are caveats. E-mail me if you want to know more; there are things I don't want to post in a public forum.


"She'll make point five past light speed. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, and I've made a lot of special modifications myself."

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Offline 1BADFISH™

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Re: Still struggling with career choice
« Reply #37 on: December 06, 2012 - 03:23:01 PM »
www.infooil.com is a good site too.   :2thumbs:

Dave
Charlottetown, PE
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1970 Dodge Challenger 340-6 4spd.
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